October 1, 2024

Hello, Project Members!

Finally, here is an update on new members and on mtDNA data submitted to GenBank that belongs to haplogroup I.

During the past 12 months (Oct 1, 2023 through September 30, 2024), our project grew by 38 members bringing our total membership to 1,847. Among our members, 78.8% have full sequence testing.

New members belong to the following subclades:
I1a, I1a1, I1a1a, I1a1b (x4), I1a1e (x2), I1c1a
I2, I2a (x2), I2a4, I2c (x3), I2d, I2e, I2l (x3), I2s
I3a, I3a1, I3d1 (x2), I3c
I4a (x4), I4a1 (x2)
I5a1, I5a2 (x2), I5b

Data from the following haplogroup I subclades were submitted to GenBank. (Data submissions to GenBank make the data available to researchers). Countries of origin are noted in cases where the data is available:
I1b7a (Saudi Arabia), I1c (Turkey), I2a (Norway), I2a4, I2s (Ireland), I5a2b (The Netherlands).

There are no upates yet on the Million Mito Project, which is working on an updated version of the mtDNA tree.  The project's hope was to have a million mtDNA sequences to work with. Unfortunately, fewer people are getting mtDNA testing these days, accumulating a million sequences is taking longer than anyone would like.

Changes (limitations) in FTDNA format options for project web pages no longer support the fancy format of the Background and Results pages, As a result, our project's Background page and Results page were offline for months. Now, those pages have links to archived versions of the pages. So, if you click (top of page) to view our project's Background or Results pages, you can then click on the links to view those archived pages. In 2023, I had prepared an update of the chart on the Results page showing the numbers and percentages of members in each main branch of haplogroup I, and that is when I discovered that it could not be added to the page. When time permits, I will create a new update of that information and present it in a format that works with the project pages. (There are also difficulties in updating pages like this one as parts of the text may get cut off and refuse editing attempts.) I apologize for the downgraded quality for some of the project pages. I hope improvements will be made.

Best wishes to one and all,

Martha Hicks

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October 1, 2023

Hello, mtDNA Cousins!

During the past three months, we gained 8 new project members. They belong to subclades I1a1, I1a1d, I2 [x2], I2c [x2], I4a, and I5c. This brings our membership to 1,809. Seventy-eight percent of the group have full-sequence testing.

Since the last update, 7 mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank--which makes the data accessible to researchers. The sequences are in subclades: I1a1a [x 2] (Polish), I1a1d (Welsh), I1c1a1 (Jewish/Hungarian), I2 (origin unknown), I3d2 (Polish), I3d2a (Russian).

It has been disappointing that our Background and Results project pages are not yet back online!

I know that many of you are hoping to extend your family trees by discovering additional direct maternal ancestors. Due to the slow mutation rate of mtDNA, people on our match lists may share a common ancestor who lived hundreds of years ago, often too far back to trace. However, exact matches at the full-sequence level have an estimated 50% chance of sharing a common ancestor who lived within 125 years. For our project members who have exact mtDNA matches at the full-sequence level and also have Family Finder results, their match lists can be useful tools to look for those who might share a direct maternal ancestor within a genealogical time frame. In some cases, -1 matches can be just as useful, as I will explain. . . .

You can check your Family Finder list for the names of your exact mtDNA matches. Not all of your closest mtDNA matches will be on your Family Finder list, but if any do appear on both lists (sharing autosomal DNA and mtDNA), there is an excellent chance that they share a common mtDNA ancestor who lived within a genealogical time period. In some cases, it may be worthwhile to run this same search for mtDNA matches who are at -1 genetic distance. (The -1 designation means there is one mtDNA mutational difference between you and them.) In some cases, the one difference is in the HVR2 portion of the mtDNA. (The HVR2 often has insignificant variations in the number of duplications at certain positions, especially at position 573.) To identify which of your -1 matches only have a difference in the HVR2, check to see if they are: On your HVR1-level match list, but NOT on your combined HVR1/HVR2-level match list. In most (but not all) cases, the one difference is a common duplication in the HVR2. These matches can be considered as closely related as an exact match in terms of distance to a common ancestor.

About a year ago, two project members in the same subclade were found to have ancestry from the same portion of New York. This prompted new research efforts on their direct maternal ancestors. It was exciting to see each of their lines led to the same ancestral couple. The members are descendants of two sisters who were born in the mid-1600s. Later, a third project member came along who was a descendant of the same couple!

If you have questions, feel free to contact, me.

Wishing you all the best!

Martha Hicks

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June 30, 2023:

Hello, Members!

Some of you may have noticed that web content on some project pages has disappeared. The project Background and Results pages for our project are blank under their headings. This appears to be a glitch that is being looked into.

It's been eight months since the last update to this page. From November 2022 through June 2023, the project gained 53 members, bringing our membership to 1,801. There are 1,406 (78% of our group) with full-sequence mtDNA testing. g. Our nNew members belong to the following subclades: I*, I1a, I1a1, I1a1a, I1a1a1, I1a1a3, I1a1a3a, I1a1b, I1a1c, I1a1d, I1a1e, I1b, I2, I2a1a, I2a3, I2c, I2d, I2l, I2m1, I2r1, I3a, I3d, I4a, I4a1, I5c, and I7.

Since last October, about 34 mtDNA data submissions were made to GenBank that belong to Haplogroup I. These were in the following subclades: I* (from the Canary Islands & Slovakia), I1a (Canary Islands, Slovakia, Algeria, & Italy), I1a1 (Canary Islands & Slovakia), I1a1a (Chechen Republic & Slovaia), I1a1c (Chechen Republic), I1a1d (England), I1b (Slovakia), I2a (Slovakia), I3a (Slovakia), I3a5 (Canary Islands), I3a5a (Canary Islands), I3a5a1 (Canary Islands), I3a6 (Norway), I4a (Germany), I5 (Algeria), I5c (Chechen Republic), and I5d (Algeria).

Wishing you all the best,

-- Martha H.

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October  31, 2022:

Hello, Haplogroup I Cousins! 

In the past five months, 24 new members joined the project. We now have 1,748 members, and 77% of our group (1,352) have full-sequence testing. Our newest members belong to the following subclades: I1a1, I1a1a, I1a1a3a, I1b, I1b6, I1c1a, I1f // I2, I2a, I2a1a, I2a1e, I2a2, I2c, I2c1, I2d, I2l(L) // I3, I3a // I4a // I5a2, I5c2.

GenBank received 21 mtDNA data submissions for Haplogroup I since the last update on this page. The new sequences belong to I1a1a, I1a1a3a (Eastern European immigrant in Brazil), I1a1c, I1a1e, I1c1, I2, I2f, I3a (Scottish), 13a1, I4a (x3, 1 English), I4a1, and I9 (Middle Easterner residing in Brazil).

FTDNA currently has a sale that extends through November 20. For anyone with lower-resolution mtDNA testing, this is a great opportunity to upgrade. The sale price to upgrade to the full-sequence test is just $79 -- a $40 saving off the regular price! In addition to the benefits of receiving a refined subclade label and a more meaningful set of matches, those with full-sequence testing will anonymously be contributing to FTDNA's Million Mito Project, which is workiing on updating the mtDNA tree! You would help meet their goal of having a million mtDNA sequences to work with. If you have any questions, feel free to email me.

-- Martha H.

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May 31, 2022:

Hello, Members!

From February through May, we gained 25 new members. Our membership has now reached 1,724, and this includes 1,327 (76.9%) with full-sequence testing. Our new members belong to the following subclades: I1a1a3a, I1a1b (x3), I1c1a1, I1a1d (x5), I1a1e, I2 (x4), I2a, I2a2, I4a (x4), I4a1b1, I4a2, I5a2, I5b. 

During the past four months, 15 mtDNA data submissions were made to GenBank that belong to Haplogroup I. These were in the following subclades: I1a1 (Scottish), I2'3 (x7, Saharan), I2 (x2, Dutch & Irish), I2a3, I2c (Scottish), I4a1 (Swedish), and I (x2 with no known subclade, Saharan).

Wishing you all the best,

-- Martha H.

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January 31, 2022:

Hello, Haplogroup I Cousins! 

This past month, ten new members joined our project. They belong to the following subclades (official and proposed labels) with proposed labels in brackets: I1a1a3, I1a1d, [I1a1g], I2, I2a3, I3a, I4a (x2), I4a1, [I4a1a]. We have now reached a total of 1,699 members, which includes 76.6% with full-sequence testing. 

Sixty mtDNA data submissions belonging to Haplogroup I were added to the GenBank database for research. Many of these were submitted by a researcher who obtained them from the Shetland and Orkney Islands. The sequences belong to:  I1a1 (Shetland Islands), I1a1b (Shetland Islands), I1a1d (x2), I1a1e (x4), I1c (Mongolia), I2 (x6), I2a, I2c (x19-Shetland and Orkney Islands), I4a (x25-Orkney Islands). 

Hoping you each stay safe and well!

- Martha

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December  31, 2021:

Happy New Year, Everyone! 

During the past two months (November & December) we gained twelve members. They are assigned to subclades I1a1a3a, I1a1e1, I1b, I2, I2a3, I2c, I2d, I3, I3a, I3a1, I4a, and I5c1. Our membership has grown to 1,689, and this includes 1,292 (which is 76.4%) who have full-sequence testing.

GenBank received data from four mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I. They belong to subclades I1a1a2, I3, I5a1b, and I5c1a.

Wishing you all a wonderful year in 2022!

-- Martha H.

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October 31, 2021:

Hello, Members!

During the past three months (August, September, October), we welcomed 20 new members. These distant cousins belong to subclades I1a1, I1a1a, I1a1b (x 2), I1a1d, I1b, I1b6, I2 (several), I2a2, I2d, I3a, I3c, I3d, I4a1, I5, I5a2b, and I5a5. Our membership has now reached 1,677. Of these, 1,278 (76%) have full-sequence testing. This record- high percentage of members with full-sequence testing is wonderful to see. The testing enables members to determine their most refined subclade (branch) within Haplogroup I. The testing also opens the door to meaningful mtDNA matching that can often be used for genealogical purposes.

A main obstacle to using mtDNA for genealogy is that many people do not list information about their direct maternal ancestors. While a name is great, this ancestor's location is even more important. Even listing a country is far better than listing no location. A name without a place could potentially come from anywhere. The person's ancestor might have lived across the world (or across town) from your ancestor. When you see an mtDNA match with ancestry from a location (town, country, state, region) where your ancestor lived, that opens the door to potential discovery.

Please consider adding or updating (if needed) the information for your direct maternal ancestor. If you happen to know her birth place, that is the best location to enter.  Otherwise, choose a location where she lived that you consider relevant for her. The more specific you can be the better. To enter the data, go to your FTDNA account settings > to Project Preferences > choose Genealogy > click on Earliest Ancestor. Then, scroll down to the area for entering data about your direct maternal ancestor. The entry spot is for the ancestor who passed down her mtDNA to you, so she is in the line of your mother's mother's mother as far back as you know. If you would like guidance or advice for entering the data (or have trouble fitting the information into the limited entry spot), feel free to email me.

In the past three months, data from 23 mtDNA sequences were submitted to GenBank for research. Two belong to unknown subclades of Haplogroup I that have not yet been identified. Others belong to I1, I1a1, I1b, I1a2, I2a2, I2a3, I4a, I4b, I5a1b, and I5a2.

Stay well and safe,

-- Martha H.

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July 31, 2021:

Hello, Everyone! 

During the past two months (June and July), ten new members joined the project. Our new members belong to the following sublcades: I1a1, I2 (x 3), I2a2, I3a (x 2), I3b, I4a, and I5a2b. Project membership now totals 1,657, and this includes 1,259 (75.98%) with full-sequence testing. 

Six mtDNA sequence in Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank. They belong to I1a1b, I1c1a, I2, I2'3, I3a, and I5a2b. 

Take care, one and all,

- Martha

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May 31, 2021:

Hello, Everyone, 

In May we gained six new members who belong to subclades I1, I1a1a2, I1a1e, I2 (x2), and I4a. Our membership has grown to 1,647 of which 1,250 (75.8%) have full sequence testing.

This past month, GenBank received data for one Haplogroup I mtDNA sequence that belongs to I1b.

Wishing you all the best in the month ahead,

-- Martha H.

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April 30, 2021:

Hello, Members!

In April, we welcomed ten new members. They belong to subclades: I* (branch not yet identified), I1a1, I1a1a (x2), I1a1b, I1c1a, I2, I2a2 (x2), and I3.  Our membership has now reached 1,641, and 1,246 (75.9%) have full-sequence testing.  

No mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were added to GenBank in April, but some are probably being processed.

Wishing you all the best,

-- Martha H.

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March 31, 2021:

Hello Haplogroup I Members, 

It's been slow, but in February and March, we welcomed a total of 11 new project members. The new members with known subclades belong to I1, I1a1b, I1b (x2), I2, I4a, I4a1, I5a1, and I5a2. Our total membership is now 1,631, and this includes 1,239 (75.96%) who have had full-sequence testing. 

Five mtDNA sequence in Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank. They belong to I1, I1a1b, I2, I3a, and I4a1. 

- Martha

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January 31, 2021:

Hello, Everyone, 

This month, we gained nine new members who belong to subclades I1a1, I1a1a3, I1b, I1e, I2 (x2), I3a, I4a1, and I5a1b. Our total membership is now 1,620 of which 1,229 (75.8%) have full sequence testing.

This past month, GenBank received ten Haplogroup I mtDNA data samples that are now available to researchers. The sequences belong to subclades I1a1, I1a1a3, I1b, I2 (x 6) and I3a1.

-- Martha H.

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December 31, 2020:

Happy New Year, 2021, Project Members!

FTDNA has extended its Winter Sale until January 3. So, if anyone is on the fence about ordering new testing, there are still a few days left to do so. FTDNA is the only company that offers full-sequence mtDNA testing to the public. For those with low-resolution testing (mtDNA-Plus), you can upgrade to the mtFull-Sequence test for only $79 - !! For those who have not yet had mtDNA testing, the mtFull-Sequence test is on sale for $139. I highly recommend taking advantage of the sale and getting the full set of data to reveal or confirm the most refined/specific branch of your mtDNA haplogroup.

In the past two months (November and December), we welcomed 11 new members. These members belong to I (unidentified subclades x2), I1a1 (x2), I1a1a3, I1b, I2, I3a1, I4, and I5a (x 2, proposed subclade I5a6).  Our membership has now reached 1,611. This includes 1,222 (75%) with full-sequence testing.  

Ten mtDNA sequences in Haplogroup I have been (or are expected to be) submitted to GenBank. These belong to I1a1, I1a1b, I1b (x 2), I2 (x3), I2f, I5a1a, and I5a4. 

Best wishes to one and all,

-- Martha H.

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October 31, 2020:

Hello, Everyone!

One of our project members, Annelise (email: ajmtravel@ymail.com ), has started a private Facebook group called MtDNA I for people in our haplogroup to communicate about roots, trees, and history. If you're interested, look up the group on Facebook and request to join. Annelise is also interested in starting a group at GEDmatch. (The Facebook group is not endorsed or sponsored by FTDNA or this project. Therefore, FTDNA and the project are not responsible for the content or accuracy of postings, and data should verified with a reliable source.)

This month, we welcomed eleven new members. Those with known subclades belong to I1a1, I1a1b, I1a1c, I2, I2c, I4a (x3), and I5a (x2).  Our membership has now reached 1,602, and 1,215 (75%) have full-sequence testing, which means they have full information available for subclade identification.  

One mtDNA sequence in Haplogroup I was submitted to GenBank this month belonging to I4a.

All the best,

-- Martha H.

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September 30, 2020:

Hello Haplogroup I Members, 

This month, we welcomed 14 new project members. Those with known subclades belong to subclades I1a1a1, I1b (x2), I2, I4a, and I4a1. Our total membership is now 1,591. This includes 1,206 (75%) who have had full-sequence testing. 

One mtDNA sequence in Haplogroup I was submitted to GenBank this month, belonging to I2a1a. 

Have a great month ahead!

- Martha

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August 31, 2020:

Hello, Everyone, 

I hope all of you are doing well.

Again this month, we gained eight new members. Those with known subclades belong to I1a1, I1a1b, I2 (x2), I4a (x2), and I4a1. Our total membership is now 1,577 of which 1,194 (75.7%) have full sequence testing.

This past month, GenBank received three Haplogroup I mtDNA data samples that are now available to researchers. The sequences belong to subclades I2a and I1a1a (x2).

-- Martha H.

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July 31, 2020:

Hello, Members,

This month, we welcomed eight new members. They belong to subclades I1a1, I1a1c, I2, I3a, and I4a.  The total members who currently have full-sequence testing is 1,186, which is still 75% of our group. 

Three mtDNA sequences in Haplogroup I--subclades I1a1a (x 2) and I2a were submitted to GenBank, making the data available to researchers.

Best wishes to all our members in the month ahead

-- Martha H.

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June 30, 2020:

Hello Members, 

This month, we gained three members who belong to subclades I1a1b, I2a2, I2c. We now have 1,561 members. We are still at 75% (75.5%) of our membership who have full-sequence testing.

Two novel mtDNA sequences in Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank this past month by a researcher who tested people in Serbia. The sequences belong to subclades I4a and a newly-proposed I5d1.

Best wishes to you all.

- Martha

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May 31, 2020:

Hello, Project Members! 

This month, we welcomed 15 new members, bringing our total membership to 1,558. Our new members belong to subclades  I1a1b (x 2), I1a1c, I1a1d, I2 (x 6), I2a (x2), I2a2, and I2c (x 2). There are 1,175 members (75.4%) with full-sequence testing. A significance of getting full-sequence mtDNA testing is that it can provide evidence for discovery of new subclades. A high percentage of our members have such evidence in their mtDNA results.

At the end of April, GenBank received Haplogroup I data samples belonging to I2, I2a3, and I5a1.

**** Reportedly, a new endeavor is in the works for building the mtDNA tree (i.e., identifying subclades)!  It is called the Million Mito Project. Genetic genealologist Roberta Estes has written about it in her blog. Here is a link to her article: https://dna-explained.com/2020/03/17/the-million-mito-project/

-- Martha H.

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April 30, 2020:

Hello, Everyone,

Wherever you are, we hope that each and every one of you are staying well. 

This past month, we welcomed four new members. One belongs to I1a1a3a, and the other three all belong to I4a. (Gaining only four new members in a month is unusual. It is a third of the dozen or so that we typically get. This is probably a reflection of the worldwide stress of the pandemic.) Our total membership is 1,543, and this includes 1,160 members with full mtDNA testing, which enables these members to determine their most refined subclade placement. 

Wishing you the best in the month ahead. Take care!

-- Martha H.

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March 31, 2020:

Hello Members, 

It is our hope that you are all safe and well during this global pandemic.

This month, fifteen new members joined the project. This brings our total membership to 1,539.  These members belong to subclades I, I1a1a, I1a1b (x2), I1a1e (x2), I1c1a, I2 (x2), I3a, I4a (x4), and I5a1.

Our project has reached an all-time high percentage (75%) of members with full-sequence mtDNA testing! These members are equipped to gain whatever determinations are available through current and future research about their subclade, and also have improved (more meaningful) match lists compared to those with partial testing.

One mtDNA sequence (in I2) was submitted to GenBank at the very end of February and not counted in last months totals.

Wishing you all the best,

- Martha

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February 28, 2020:

Hello, Project Members! 

We welcomed 18 new members (much more than usual) to the project this month, bringing our total membership to 1,524. Our new members belong to subclades I1, I1a1d, I2, I2a3, I2c (x2), I2d, I3 (x2), I3a, I4a2, I4b, I5a1 and a few unknown.  There are 1,139 members (74%) with full-sequence testing, which enables refined subclade determination.  No known sequences in Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank this month.

-- Martha H.

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January 31, 2020:

Hello, Project Members!

I hope the new year is off to a great start for each of you!  In January, we gained six new members, bringing our total to 1,506 members. Our new members belong to subclades I1a1b, I1a1d, I2, and I3a.

Three Haplogroup I sequences were submitted to GenBank in January. Two belong to subclades of Haplogroup I that have not yet been identified, and one belongs to I1c1.

Progress on updating the published mtDNA tree seems to have stalled out or been put on hold. Evidence has accumulated for many new subclades, and the ongoing delay in identifying these smaller branches is disappointing. However, I anticipate that it will eventually move forward. 

Good news! FTDNA has permanently lowered prices for many of its tests, including mtDNA! The new prices are $159 for mtFull-Sequence (formerly $199), and $119 for upgrades to full- sequence (formerly $159). I hope this encourages many people (including our matches) to discover and maximize their mtDNA information.  

-- Martha H.

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December 31, 2019:

Hello Members, 

We are ending the year of 2019 with 1,500 members, which reflects a gain of 7 members this month. Our new members belong to subclades  I1a1a, I2, I2a2, I3, I3a1, and I4a1. There are 1,120 members (74% of our membership) with full-sequence testing, which provides the information needed for specific subclade determination.

Two mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank this month. These were in subclades I5a and I5a1, both from Serbia.

Happy New Year to One and All!

- Martha

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November 30, 2019:

Hello, Project Members! 

We welcomed 9 new members to the project this month, bringing our total membership to 1,493. Our new members belong to subclades I1a, I1a1a3a, I2 (x3), and I4a, plus unknown subclades. The percentage of members with full-sequence testing is now 74.5% (1,113 members).

Within the last month or two, YFull removed from its MTree all of the mtDNA subclades that it had identified this year. Many of those subclades are well substantiated by evidence and had been added to our members' DNA results page. These subclades divided large branches into smaller, more closely related groups. Therefore, those that are well supported by evidence are being kept in place on our members' results page. For each subclade group on that project page, the source of the subclade is now shown in parentheses. Sources are designated as follows: "PhyloTree" (official mtDNA tree), "MTree/Proposed" (formerly on the MTree), and "Proposed Subclade" (proposed by me, M. Hicks, for a limited set of subclades for which I see evidence at GenBank and/or within the project). ALL SUBLADES LISTED AS "PROPOSED" COULD BE ASSIGNED A DIFFERENT SUBCLADE LABEL (OR MIGHT RECEIVE NO LABEL) IN THE FUTURE.

This month, seven mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank and are available to researchers. These sequences belong to I1, I1a1a, I1a1a2, I1a1e, I2, and I2b (x 2).

-- Martha H.

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October 31, 2019:

Hello, Project Members!

This month, we gained eleven new members. They belong to subclades I1, I1a1e, I2, I3a, I3d, I4a, I4a1, and I5a. Our total memberships is now 1,484, which includes 1,105 (74%) with full-sequence testing. 

Three new mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank in October (making the data available to researchers). The sequences belong to I1a, I3d, and I5a1 and are all quite unusual. The ones in I1a and I5a1 are Assyrian sequences, while the one in I3d is of unknown origin.

-- Martha H.

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September 30, 2019:

Hello Members, 

This month, we gained eight new members, belonging to subclades I1a1, I1a1a3, I1a1b, I2, I3a, and I4a. This brings our total membership to 1,473 of which 1,093 (74%) now have full-sequence testing! This percentage is a new record high for the project!

Three mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank this month in subclades I1a1e, I1b, and I5c3.

- Martha

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August 31, 2019:

Hello, Project Members! 

Many of our members took advantage of FTDNA's summer sale, which was good to see. We welcomed 10 new members to the project this month bringing our total to 1,465. This includes 1,084 members with full-sequence testing, which is 73% of the group. Our new members belong to subclades I, I1a1, I1a1b, I1a1c, I2a3, I2c, I4,  I4a, and I5a1a. There were no new sequences in Haplogroup I appearing at GenBank this month. -- Martha H.

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July 31, 2019:

Hello!

FTDNA's Summer Sale will extend through the month of August! 
For those who have not yet ordered or upgraded to the mtFull-Sequence, sale prices are as follows:
First-time mtDNA testers: $149 (plus shipping if a DNA-collection kit is needed)
Those who have mt-testing of HVR1 only:  $139 to upgrade to full-sequence
Those who have mt-testing of HVR1 & HVR2: $129 to upgrade to full-sequence

If you have questions about ordering, don't hesitate to ask

          ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

This month, we gained nine new members who belong to subclades I1a1c, I2, I2d, I4a, I4a1, and I5a2 Our total membership is now 1,455.  There are 1,067 members (73%) with full-sequence testing. 

This month, only one Haplogroup I sequence -- in I1a1b -- was added to GenBank to make it available to researchers.

The company YFull continues to identify Haplogroup I subclades and add them to their MTree. You can see it here: https://www.yfull.com/mtree/I/

-- Martha H.

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June 30, 2019:

Hello, Project Members, 

This past month, we gained eleven new members belonging to subclades I1a1a, I1a1 (probably I1a1a3a), I1a1e, I2c, I2d, I2m1, I3a, I4a (x4!). We now have 1,446members. There are 1,069 (73.8%) with full-sequence test results.

Many of our project members belong to subclades that have been newly identified by the company YFull.  See the project Results page for a full list of the additional subclades that the project is recognizing for Haplogroup I.

No mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were added to GenBank this month.

- Martha

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May 31, 2019:

Hello, Project Members! 

This month, 13 new members joined the project bringing our total to 1,435. This includes 1,059 members with full-sequence testing, which is 73% of the group. Our new members belong to subclades I1, I1a1, I1b (x4), I1c1a, I2, I3a (plus some unknown subclades). It was a big month for I1b with four new members added to this relatively small group. There were also two I1b data sets submitted to GenBank this month, making the data accessible to researchers.

****  You might want to take a look at the updated "Results" page of the project. Scroll down below the chart on that page to find information about a new mtDNA tree being actively developed--called the MTree--by the company YFull.  You can see that project page at the link below:

https://www.familytreedna.com/groups/mt-dna-i/about/results

This month, seven new data sets belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank. These are in subclades I1a1 (x2), I1b (x2), I1f, I2 & I2c.

Martha H.

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April 30, 2019:

Hello, Haplogroup I Family!

This month, we gained ten new members who belong to subclades I1a1, I1a1e, I2, I2a3, I2c, I3, and I4a. Our total memberships is now 1,422.  There are 1,047 members (73%) with full-sequence testing. 

Just one Haplogroup I sequence -- in I1a1a -- newly appeared in the GenBank database for research.

FTDNA wrapped up their DNA Day sale after extending it a few extra days, and it was good to see that members were getting testing done, and we wish them the best of luck in making new discoveries!

-- Martha H.

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March 31, 2019:

Hello, Project Members, 

This past month, seven new members joined the project. Those with known subclades belong to I1a1a, I2, I4a (x 3) and I4a1.  We now have 1,412 members, and 1,039 (73.5%) have full-sequence test results.

Two mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank -- in subclades I1a1e and I2a3.

All week, large numbers of our male members have been ordering the new Y-DNA upgrade called Big Y-700, and we wish them the best of luck researching branches of their direct paternal lines! 

- Martha

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February 28, 2019:

Hello, Everyone! 

We welcomed 14 new members this month bringing our total to 1,405. This includes 1,032 members with full-sequence testing, which is 73% of the group. Our new members belong to subclades I1a1a, I1a1a1, I1a1e (x4), I2 (x2), I3c, I4, I4a (x2), plus an unconfirmed subclade. It seemed to be quite the month for I1a1e! Ten percent of our members in that subclade (4 out of 10) joined during this month, and an I1a1e sequence was added to GenBank, making it available to researchers. This month, sequences belonging to subclades I1f and I5c1 were also added to GenBank.

Martha H.

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January 31, 2019:

Happy New Year, Project Members!

This month, we welcomed 22 new members. This is about twice the usual number, probably as a result of tests being completed after the holiday sales. Our new members belong to the following mtDNA subclades:  I1, I1a1, I1a1b, I1a1e (x2), I1b, I1f, I2 (x5), I2a, I2a2 (x2), I4a (x3), I4a1, I5a4, and I5c1 (x2). This brings our current membership to 1,391. We have now hit an all-time high percentage of members with full-sequence mtDNA testing with 73% (1,020) of our members in that category. 

-- Martha H.

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December 31, 2018:

Hello, Members! 

Today, December 31, is the last day of FTDNA's 2018 Holiday Sale. If you have been undecided up until now about ordering a test, you have until midnight central time to place an order at sale prices.

We welcomed six new members into the project this month, bringing our total end-of-year membership to 1,369. The newest members belong to sublcades I1a1e, I2, and I4a1.

The percentage of our membership with full-sequence mtDNA testing (1,001 members) has reached a new high of 73%!  This test maximizes subclade determination and mtDNA matching with others tested in the FTDNA database.

It was a big month for Haplogroup I at GenBank with the submission of about 13 sequences for research. These mtDNA sequences belong to subclades I1a, I1a1, I1a1a (x3), I1b, I1c1, I2d (x 2), I3a1, and I4a (x3).

Wishing all of our members a very Happy New Year in 2019!

- Martha

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November 30, 2018:

Hello Group Members! 

The project gained 14 members this month bringing out total to 1,363. There are 994 members with full-sequence testing, which is 72% of the group. These new members belong to subclades I1, I1a1b, I2, and, I2d.

FTDNA's holiday sale is underway! So, it's a great time to consider new testing or upgrades that support your goals.

This month, GenBank received one full-sequence data set from Haplogroup I, which belongs to I1a1a.

Martha H.

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October 31, 2018:

Warm Greetings, Project Members,

This month, 11 new members joined the project, belonging to subclades I1a1a3a, I1c1a, I1a1d, I1b, I2a1, I3a, I3a1, I4a, and I5c. This brings our current membership to 1,349 with 72% (980) of our members with full-sequence testing. 

Two mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were added to the GenBank database for research. The sequences are in subclades I2a and I1a1a1. Dr. Ian Logan (October 2018) reports that, thus far, GenBank has received 667 mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I. 

-- M.H.

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September 30, 2018:

Hello, Project Members! 

This month, the project gained 22 new members--more than usual--bringing our total membership to 1,338. Our new members belong to subclades I1a1a (x 2), I1a1a1 (x 2), I1a1b, I1b, I2, I4a (x 5), I4a1 (x 2), I4a2 (x 2), and I5c1. It was unusual to have 9 new members belonging to I4a (or its subclades). So, it was an unusually big month of project growth for that group. (See the last paragraph of this update for more on I4a.)

We continue to have 72% of our membership (972 members) with full-sequence testing. This testing allows full analysis of a person's subclade assignment, including whether they may belong to a subclade that has not yet been identified.

According to Dr. Ian Logan, an ancient mtDNA sequence (labeled I4a) from Moravia, dating back to 2800–2300 BC, was added to the GenBank database. It is not a complete sequence, which usually disqualifies a sequence from being added to GenBank, but it was accepted, probably due to its significance and rarity as an ancient sequence. Additional mtDNA sequences appearing at GenBank this month include  I1a1c and I3. Additional sequences have been submitted and their appearance at GenBank are expected within a few weeks.

-- Martha

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August 31, 2018:

Hello Everyone! 

This month we welcomed 9 new members who belong to subclades I1a1a3a, I1b, I2 (x3), I4a, I4a1 (x2), and I5a4. This brings our total membership to 1,316. A record-breaking 72% (952) of our members now have full-sequence testing, which allows them to know their full subclade status.

It was great to see members take advantage of the FTDNA summer sale that was in effect throughout the month of August!

At the end of July, four ancient mtDNA sequences (subclades I1b, I2d, and I3a [x2]) were submitted by a researcher to GenBank along with sequences from many other haplogroups. This was in association with an article entitled (click title to view), "A Genetic Perspective on Longobard-Era Migrations." 

M. H.

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August 2, 2018: UPDATE: FTDNA's Summer Sale has begun and continues throughout the month of August. The sale price for upgrades of mtDNA tests to the mtFull-Sequence is only $99, while it costs $149 for those who do not yet have any mtDNA test results in the FTDNA system. If you have not yet done so, it is a great opportunity to nail down your specific subclade representing your direct maternal line!

July 31, 2018:

Hello, Project Members,

This month, we gained 13 new project members, belonging to subclades I1, I1b, I2, I2a, I3a, and I4a. Our membership is now at 1307. A full 72% (944) of our members have mtFull-Sequence testing. 

Six mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were added to the GenBank database for research. These sequences are in subclades: I1a1a (x2), I1a1b, I1a1c, I2a2, and I4a.

-- M.H.

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June 30, 2018:

Hello, Project Members!  We hope that your summer is off to a good start!

This month, the project gained 10 new members, bringing our total membership to 1,294. Our new members belong to subclades I1a1, I1a1a, I1a1a3, I2, I2d, and I5a1a.

In our project, a record-breaking 72% of our membership (932 members) now have mtFull-Sequence testing. These members have all the information needed to analyze their subclade status and to determine precisely where they fit on the published mtDNA tree as it develops. It also paves the way for them to learn more about the ancient histories of their mtDNA lines--as discoveries are made in the future about migration paths, etc.

This month (or end of last month), three mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank for research. These belong to subclades I1b, I2, and I5a2.

-- Martha

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May 31, 2018:

Hello Everyone!  This month we had a net gain of 7 members bringing our total membership to 1,284.  A record-breaking 71% (921) of our members have full-sequence testing.

In the past two weeks, FTDNA made some changes to customer settings for privacy, sharing, and project preferences. It would be greatly appreciated if you will ensure that your settings allow administrators to see your Coding Region data by "Opting In" to it (under Privacy & Sharing). For our project, the option on that same page to allow administrators to "publish" your data simply results in an entry for you on our members' results page (nothing new about it) that you can See Here. Also, please enable administrators of this project to have Limited Access (under Project Preferences). These settings are necessary for us to analyze your specific subclade, include you in comparisons, as well as provide assistance in assessing your mtDNA matching status.

This past month, subclade I4a was in the limelight. There were new members in this group, and three data sets (in I4a [x2] and I4a1) were submitted to GenBank for research.

M. H.

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April 30, 2018:

Hello, Project Members,

FamilyTreeDNA held its DNA-Day sale in the latter half of April, discounting the mtFull-Sequence test from $199 to $149.  Now FTDNA has rolled out its Mother's Day Sale, which began April 30 and extends to May 14, featuring a huge discount on mtDNA test upgrades, priced at just $99 (normally $159).  For those without any mtDNA testing yet at FTDNA, the $149 price is back on the table during this sale.  I hope that many members will take advantage of the current sale to finally nail down their specific sublade!

In April, we welcomed 11 new members to the project. This brings our total membership to 1,277, which includes 903 (70%) of our membership with full-sequence testing. 

Seven mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were added to the GenBank database for research. These sequences are in the following subclades: I1a1a3, I1a1b, I1b, I2, I2a2, I2d, and I5a2.

-- M.H.

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March 31, 2018:

Hello!  This month we gained 12 new members, bringing our membership to 1,266.  In our project, 893 members have mtFull-Sequence testing, which is 70% of our group!

Seventeen mtDNA sequences that belong to Haplogroup I appeared at GenBank (added at the end of February, found in March). The sequences, which are available now to researchers are in these subclades:  I (x3), I1a1 (x2), I1a1a (x3), I1a1c, I2 (x6), I1a1a3a, I1b (x2), and I4b.  These sequences reflect a mix our project members' submissions, plus submissions by researchers--including a large set from Turkey.

-- Martha

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February 28, 2018:

Hello Everyone!  This month 16 new members joined the project, bringing our total membership to 1254.  There are now 880 members who have full-sequence testing, which is 70% of our group!

It was another big month for Haplogroup I submissions to GenBank for research and subclade development. Since the last report, 8 sequences were added, belonging to these subclades: I1 (x2), I1a1a (x2), I2, I2d, I4a, and I4a1.

Wishing everyone a great month ahead,

M. H.

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January 31, 2018:

Hello, Everyone!

This month, we welcomed 11 new members to the project. This brings our total membership to 1,238. We now have 867 sets of full-sequence results in the project, which is 70% of our members. Several more members have test results that are pending.

It was a busy month for Haplogroup I data submissions to GenBank. Ten mtDNA sequences were added, which represent these subclades:  I, I1a1 (x2), I1c, I2c, I2d, I3a1, I4b, I5a1a, and I5c1.  Additional submissions are being processed.  The identification of new subclades depends on data submissions of novel mtDNA sequences to GenBank, and we appreciate members who are willing to make that data available to researchers.

-- M.H.

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December 31, 2017:

Hello, everyone!  Today is the final day of FTDNA's holiday sale, so--until midnight in your time zone--anyone undecided and 'on the fence' can still take advantage of sale prices.

During the sale, it was a thrill to see each new order for the mtFull-Sequence test.  And, it was wonderful to see how many of our male members ordered the BigY or 111-marker tests. These tests are what it's all about when it comes to furthering research and development for the mtDNA and YDNA trees.  On the mtDNA front, a large percentage of full-sequence tests reveal subclades that have not yet been seen or that are in need of further evidence, so this is a valuable test from that standpoint as well on an individual basis as people discover their specific haplogroup branch.

This month we gained 21 new members, bringing our membership to 1,227.  In our project, 864 members have mtFull-Sequence testing that is either completed or ordered.  This means we have reached an all-time high of 70% of our members with full-sequence testing!

This month, three mtDNA sequences were submitted to GenBank. These are in subclades I1a1 (x2) and I2.  I am hopeful that in the coming year we'll see an update to the mtDNA tree. 

Happy New Year! 

-- Martha

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November 30, 2017:

Hello Everyone!  As you may know FTDNA has a *** Holiday Sale *** underway that goes through December.  The price for upgrading a current mtDNA test to the mtFull-Sequence is just $119. The price for an initial mtDNA test (Full-Sequence) is $169 with discount codes available that lower this cost further.  It is gratifying to see members take advantage of the sale.  This test is necessary to learn one's full mtDNA subclade status.

This month, we gained 15 new members, bringing our total membership to 1206.  There are 838 members with full-sequence mtDNA testing, which is 69% of our project.

This month, four mtDNA sequences were submitted to GenBank, making the data available to researchers. These sequences belong to subclades I1a1b, I1a1c, I1a1d, and I3a1. 

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October 31, 2017:

Hello Project Members!

This month, our project gained 11 new members.  We now have a total membership of 1191.  There are 69% with full-sequence testing.  For those who do not yet have full-sequence testing, keep in mind that FTDNA will likely have its annual sale coming up in December. The mtFull-Sequence test will enable you to know your exact subclade status and provide the best (most meaningful) mtDNA match results at several matching levels. 

This month, five Haplogroup I sequences were submitted to GenBank for research purposes. These sequences belong to I1, I1a1b, I4a1, I4b (x2).

Wishing all of our members a great month ahead.  -- Martha Hicks

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September 30, 2017:

Hello!  This month we gained 9 new members, bringing our membership to 1,176.  In our group, 69% (812) have full-sequence testing, giving them their full subclade status.

GenBank added just one Haplogroup I sequence to its database this month, which was in subclade 13a, making it available to researchers.

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August 31, 2017:

Hello Everyone!  In light of flooding from Hurricane Harvey, we are thankful to hear that FTDNA staff and headquarters are safe and dry. Prayers and condolences go out for all who have suffered losses as a result of the storm.

We are happy that many members took advantage of the Summer Sale at FTDNA. While full-sequence mtDNA testing is the one that gets us most excited around here, it was interesting and wonderful to see that many male members jumped to order Big Y testing.  This is fabulous for development of the Y-DNA tree.

This month, we gained 8 new members, bringing our total membership to 1167. We now have a record high level of members (806) with full-sequence mtDNA testing, extending to 69% of our project! Yay! 

This month, five new mtDNA sequences were submitted to GenBank for research. These sequences belong to subclades I1a1a, I2c, I4a, and I5a1a (x2). 

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July 31, 2017:

Hello Project Members!

Throughout the month of August, FTDNA is having a Summer Sale with reduced prices on many tests, including this project administrator's favorite test of all: mtFull-Sequence.  Sale prices extend to those wishing to upgrade from lower-resolution to full-sequence mtDNA testing, as well as to those testing mtDNA for the first time.  The Sale price for mtDNA upgrades is $119, while the price for those testing mtDNA for the first time at FTDNA is $159. It is our wish that many members will take advantage of the sale, since it is the only test that reveals full subclade status, and -- in most cases -- it is the only test that provides a meaningful set of matches.

In July, we gained 19 new members, bringing our membership to 1159.  Of this number, 68.8% have full-sequence testing.

This past month, five Haplogroup I sequences were submitted to GenBank for research purposes. These sequences belong to a main branch of Haplogroup I that is yet to be identified, and also to subclades I1a1e, I4a, and I4b (I4b actually added June 30).

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June 30, 2017:

Hello Project Members!  This month we welcomed 27 new members to our group. This brings our total membership to 1140. We have 782 (still 68%) with full-sequence testing.

GenBank added 12 Haplogroup I sequences to its database this month. These sequences are in subclades I*, I1b, I2 (x3), I3a (x2), I3a1, I4a, I5a, and I5c (x2), making the data available to researchers.

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May 31, 2017:

Hello Everyone!  This month seventeen new members joined our ranks. Our total membership is now 1113, which includes 68% with full-sequence testing.

Data for six new mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were added to GenBank, making the data available to researchers. These sequences belong to subclades I1a1, I1e, I2 (x2), I4a1, and I5c1. 

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April 30, 2017:

Hello Everyone!

This month, in commemoration of National DNA Day on April 25, FTDNA had a week-long sale on its mtFull-Sequence test. We are happy for the members who were able to take advantage of the sale! 

FTDNA completed a large batch of tests this month. This increased our membership, as we gained 25 members, many of whom were newly tested.  This brings our membership to 1,096 with 68% having full-sequence testing. 

Most (if not all) other companies that do mtDNA testing only target 19% of the mtDNA genome.  Variants contained in the other 81% of the mtDNA need to be revealed for a person to know or confirm where he or she fits on the mtDNA tree.  Development of Haplogroup I (with many more subclades yet to be identified) is dependent on more full-sequence testing. 

GenBank added one Haplogroup I data set this month, belonging to I4a1. A nice batch of additional mtDNA data sets are due to appear at GenBank soon. 

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March 31, 2017:

This has been an exciting month for Haplogroup I!  Where to begin?

For the first time in five years, FTDNA has updated its mtDNA haplogroup labeling system to the current version of the official mtDNA tree. (This tree is Build 17 of the mt-PhyloTree.) Although, for years, our project has been categorizing members according to their most refined subclade to date, members with full-sequence testing now have those labels displayed on their FTDNA pages.

This week, in celebration of the haplogroup label update, FTDNA is offering to upgrade partial mtDNA tests to full-sequence at an all-time low price of $99. It is exciting to see many of our members take advantage of this sale! Currently, 15 members are awaiting full-sequence test results!  These members will soon have all the information they will ever need to determine their most up-to-date haplogroup assignment, both now and in the future as branches are added to the mtDNA tree. A high-five to all these members!

In March, we welcomed 16 new members to the project, bringing our total membership to 1,071.  A record high of 68% of these members have full-sequence testing. 

More fantastic news:  A record number of mtDNA sequences -- 38 -- belonging to Haplogroup I were submitted to GenBank this month.  About 10 of these were from our own project members. Another 28 were submitted by a researcher as part of a batch of 2,092 sequences from the island of Sardinia, Italy.  Below is a subclade summary of the new sequences at Genbank. The letter S designates the ones from Sardinia: 

I (x2S, belonging to a major branch of Haplogroup I that has not yet been identified)  // I1a1 (x2)  //   I1a1a (x3 [2S])  //  I1a1a3a (x1)  //   I1a1b (x1)  //  I1b (x1S)  //  I1e (x1)  //  I2 (x1)  //  I2d (x1)  //  I3a (x1S)  //  I5a1a (x1)  //  I5a2 (x19S [!!])  //  I5a4 (x1)  //  I5c (x1S)  //  I5c1 (x1S)  //  I6a (x1S).

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February 28, 2017:

We had a large influx of members this month, as we welcomed 23 new members!  We now have 1055 members, which includes 67% with full-sequence testing.

At GenBank, two new mtDNA data sets were added in February, belonging to I2 and I3. Submissions are pending for several more. 

It has now been one year since the last update to the official mtDNA tree, and we hope for another update within the coming year, as evidence is growing for numerous additional Haplogroup I subclades.

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January 31, 2017:

This month, the project gained 17 new members. This brings our total to 1032 members. There are now 692 members with full-sequence testing, which is a new high of 67% of the project. 

For the first time in ages, this past month, no new mtDNA sequences in Haplogroup I appeared at GenBank. However, some were submitted and are due to appear there any day.

 

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December 31, 2016:

During the holiday sale, we had a record number of members upgrading to full-sequence testing. Three cheers to everyone (past and present) who made that decision! You will forever know your most up-to-date subclade status and can maximize knowledge of your mtDNA line.

In December, we welcomed 17 new members. The project reached a milestone of 1000 members and beyond... with 1015 members, as we head into a new year!  Of this total membership, 679 (66%) have full-sequence results.

GenBank added four Haplogroup I sequences to its database this month. These sequences are in subclades I1a1a3, I2, and I3a (x2), making the data available to researchers.

Happy New Year to One & All!

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November 30, 2016:

FTDNA is having a Sale on the mtFull-Sequence test. And, for a few weeks now -- and continuing -- FTDNA is divvying out weekly, transferable discount codes to its customers that reduces the price even further!  It has been wonderful to see quite a few members taking advantage of this opportunity to upgrade to the mtFull-Sequence test. This test is the only test that provides the full subclade status of your direct maternal line. If anyone would like an extra discount off the Sale price (double savings!) on the mtFull-Sequence test, let me me (Martha) know. Although, the codes are limited in number, I can probably obtain a discount code for you.  Please consider offering this to your matches who have not yet upgraded their mtDNA test. Just send them my way.

The project has nearly reached a landmark number of 1000 members! We gained 16 new members this month, bringing our current total to 998!  Of these, 661 (a record high of 66%) have full-sequence testing.

At GenBank this month, data for four Haplogroup I sequences were submitted. These belong to subclades I1, I1b, I2, and I4a.

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October 31, 2016:

This month, 14 new members joined the project. We now have 982 members, and it is hard to believe we are approaching 1000 members.  Of the 982 members, 646 (65%) have full-sequence testing. 

GenBank received three mtDNA sequences during the month of October belonging to Haplogroup I for research. These were in subclades I1a1b, I1a1d, and I2.

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September 30, 2016:

This month, we welcomed 14 new members to the project, bringing our total to 968. This includes 636 (65%) with full-sequence results.

GenBank added three Haplogroup I sequences to its database this month. These sequences are in subclades I1a1, I5a1a, and I5c1, providing new evidence for researchers.

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August 31, 2016:

Lots of new members joined our ranks this month with an addition of 24 members!  This has followed the processing of large numbers of tests from FTDNA's most recent mtDNA sales. We now have 954 members.  A record-breaking 65% now have full-sequence testing.

At GenBank this month, one Haplogroup I sequence was added, belonging to subclade I2c.

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July 31, 2016:

Hello Members,

After the whirlwind of 27 new members last month, things slowed down a bit in July. Nonetheless, the Project gained 10 new members, bringing our total to 930. Of these 608 (65%) have full-sequence test results.

GenBank received three mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I for research. These were in subclades I3a1 and I4a (x 2).

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June 30, 2016:

      Hello Project Members,

Three cheers to the members who upgraded their testing to the mtFull-Sequence during FTDNA's mid-June sale!  These members are about to join the ranks of those who have all the data needed to forever determine their most refined mt-subclade. This will enable them to connect with future research findings and studies about their specific branch.

This month, our project grew by a record-breaking 27 new members, bringing our total to 920 members.  This includes 601 (an all-time high of 65%) with full-sequence test results... [project administrator doing gleeful cartwheels!].

GenBank added an exciting set of five Haplogroup I sequences to its database this month from the following subclades:  I*, I1a1, I1c, I3b, and I5.  It's a slow process, but there is a vast amount of development ahead (many new branches to be identified) for our haplogroup.

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June 16, 2016:
NEWS FLASH!  Upgrades to the mtFull-Sequence Test are ON SALE from Friday, June 16, through Monday, June 20!!  If you haven't already done so, please don't miss out!

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May 31, 2016:

This month, 12 new members joined the project. We now have 893 members - of which 578 (64%) have full-sequence testing.  For those who have not yet upgraded, FTDNA anticipates having a sale coming up in June, so stay tuned for details!

One mtDNA sequence in Haplogroup I was added to GenBank this month, belonging to I1c1a.

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April 30, 2016:

Hello Members,

The Project gained 20 new members this month!  There was an unprecedented number of new members belonging to I3 (various subclades of I3) who joined, one after another, over a few days. It was surprising since I3 is not frequently seen. We now have 881 members.

This month, GenBank received a rather large and nice set of mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I for research. There were 8 sequences from the following subclades: I1, I1a, I1a1, I1c, I2d, I5, I5a, and I5c1.

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March 31, 2016:

      Hello Project Members,

We welcomed 19 new members this month, bringing our membership to 861.  A total of 556 members (64%) have had full-sequence testing. 

GenBank received data from two Haplogroup I mtDNA sequences this past month, belonging to subclades I3a1 and I4a1.  Many thanks to these members for promoting  research and development of their branches.

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February 29, 2016:

Dear Project Members,

The official mtDNA tree (PhyloTree) has finally been updated with the release of Build 17!  Subclades added to the mtDNA tree for Haplogroup I are: I1a1a3, I1a1a3a, I1f, I2a3, and I2f.  Categories for these newly-discovered subclades have now been added to our members' results page, and 35 members have been moved into these groups. (As it turns out, many subclades that were anticipated are not yet added to the tree. In most cases, this is probably due to the need for more samples to be made available to researchers before confirmation of the subclades can be made.)

We gained 17 members this month, bringing our membership total to 842. There are now 540 members (64%) with full-sequence mtDNA testing.

Last month, at the tail end of January, GenBank received five sets of mtDNA data for Haplogroup I with the potential to promote development of these subclades: I1a1e, I2, I2a, I3a, and I4a. This month, GenBank received two: I1 and I1a1b.

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January 31, 2016:

Hello Members,

We hope everyone's new year is off to a great start!  It's hard to believe January is already over.

Our membership increased by 15 this month. We now have 825 members, including 547 (63%) with full sequence tests.  We are still awaiting the release of the updated mtDNA tree (Build 17 of the PhyloTree). It could happen any time.  No new Haplogroup I sequences appeared at GenBank this month, but several are pending.

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December 31, 2015:

       Greetings, Haplogroup I Cousins!

Today (Thursday, Dec. 31) is the last day of FTDNA's holiday sale, so, if you read this in time, you may have a few hours left to place an order.  It is a joy each time we see a member upgrade to full-sequence testing, as this vastly increases the value of the results, and enables our members to discover their most refined subclade.  To my knowledge, the most comprehensive mtDNA testing out there -- below full-sequence -- targets only 19% of the mtDNA sequence. This is why we encourage full-sequence testing. There is a big difference in what you can learn when you have 100% vs. 19% of the data.

We now have word that an update of the official mtDNA tree (Build 17 of the PhyloTree) is due to be released soon!  Behind the scenes, the past two years have been monumental in the development of Haplogroup I.  It is expected that there will be many new I subclades.  And... truly, it's been 'The Year of I2.' I am expecting a record number of new branches for this subclade. 

For those of you who anticipate being placed into a new subclade with the release of the new mtDNA tree, I need to mention that the tree was reportedly finalized months ago. This means that some of the newer discoveries will not be reflected on the new tree this time around, but will likely be added to the next version of the tree. This field definitely requires patience!

This month, we gained 12 new members. It was odd and very surprising that half of these new members (unrelated, belonging to different subclades) all joined on December 18. We now have 810 members.  This includes 515 (63%) with full-sequence testing.  

This month, five Haplogroup I sequences were added to the GenBank database. These belong to subclades I1a1e, I2 (x2), I2c, and I3c.

Wishing you all a fabulous new year in 2016!

M.H.

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November 30, 2015:

This month we gained 14 members, bringing our membership to 798. There are now 500 members (62%) with full-sequence mtDNA testing.

GenBank received three new Haplogroup I sequences, belonging to subclades I1a1a, I1c1a, and I2a1.

For Those Without Full-Sequence Testing:  FTDNA has a Sale on mtFull-Sequence testing, which is in effect through December.  Please don't miss out on the chance to upgrade your testing.  For our members with either HVR1-level or HVR2-level testing, the sale price is $149... BUT with a discount code, you can get up to $20 off of the sale price, lowering the price to $129. If you do not have access to a discount code, let me know. - Martha Hicks 

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October 31, 2015:

Hello, Haplogroup I Cousins,

This month, ten new members joined the project. We now have a membership of 784.  The percentage with full-sequence mtDNA testing -- which has revealed evidence for many, many new Haplogroup I subclades this past year -- is at an all-time high of 62%.  As I often point out: In addition to promoting development of the mtDNA tree, these members are permanently equipped to determine their most up-to-date subclade. I believe the test is a priceless (yet relatively inexpensive) investment for anyone interested in understanding the history of their direct maternal line.

Data for a number of new Haplogroup I sequences have appeared at GenBank this month. Many thanks to our members with relevant sequences who were willing to do this!  It was a phenomenal month for I4a in the way of new discoveries.  The new sequences at GenBank belong to these subclades: I2, I4a, and I4a1 (x2).

Some longstanding formating irregularities (text color fluctuations) on some of the project pages have now been corrected.  The color variations were not apparent on certain computer screens.  Please let me know if you notice anything further that needs improvement.  - M.H. 

Dr. Ian Logan has added a new feature to his GenBank/mtDNA pages showing population size estimates for each subclade. Below are links to his pages pertaining to Haplogroup I. On each page, you will find his population estimates below a list of the sequences that have been submitted to Genbank, so look in the lower section of the page for the group you wish to see.
Haplogroup I Overview
Subclade I1   /   Subclade I1a   /   Subclade I1b-I1e   /   Subclade I2   /   Subclade I3
Subclade I4   /   Subclade I5   /     Subclade I6   /   Subclade I7

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September 30, 2015:

       Hello, Everyone!

We gained 17 members this month. We now have 774 members, including 474 (61%) with full-sequence testing.  

We were glad that several members took advantage of the mtDNA sale at the end of August. FTDNA has been completing mtDNA upgrades in record time. In fact, those results are already finished!

This month, data for one Haplogroup I sequence was added to the GenBank database, belonging to subclade I5.  More are on the way.

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August 31, 2015:

The sale on mtFull testing continues today until midnight Central Time!  Each new set of data is a valued addition to the project. 

This month, we welcomed 12 new members, bringing our membership to 757.

Currently, 454 members have taken the full-sequence test, which amounts to 59.9% of our group.

Test results for 5 sequences belonging to Haplogroup I were added to GenBank -- in the following subclades: I1a1a, I2, I4a, I4a1, and I5. This gives researchers  access to the data.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

August 30, 2015:

NEWS FLASH: Currently, FTDNA has a Sale on mtFull-Sequence testing, which is in effect through tomorrow, Monday, August 31.  For our members with only HVR1-level and HVR2-level results, or those who have transferred from other companies without mt-testing at FTDNA, this is an opportunity to get a phenomenal deal on your upgrade or initial test. 

Not only has the price been reduced during the Sale, but the Project will contribute an additional $25 off the sale price to the first 5 members who are ready to place an order and email me (Martha) to make the arrangements.

* For those upgrading who currently have HVR2-level results: The sale price is $104.25 (normally $139), but the extra discount would lower the cost to just $79.25.

* For those upgrading who currently have just HVR1-level results: The sale price is $119.25 (normally $159), but the extra discount would lower the cost to just $94.25. 

* For those placing your first mtDNA test with FTDNA: The sale price is $159.20 (normally $199) + shipping, if a first-time tester at FTDNA. The extra discount would lower the cost to $134.20 (plus shipping, if needed).

This test will provide a permanent and priceless gift of knowledge for your family.  Don't miss out on this chance to get it at an unheard-of low price!

Contact me with any questions or to let me know you would like to go ahead and order the test.

Martha Hicks (see left side of project page for access to email address)

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July 31, 2015:

Hello Everyone!

Ten new members joined the project this month, bringing our membership to 745.  Those in the project with full-sequence mtDNA testing have increased to 60%. The test enables precise up-to-date subclade determination and promotes the discovery of new subclades. 

This month, data for ten mtDNA sequences were added to GenBank. These sequences belong to subclades I1a1a (x 2), I1a1b, I1a1d, I2 (x 3), I4a (x 2), and I5. These will aid the discovery of some new subclades. Many thanks to these members for promoting research and development of Haplogroup I !

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June 30, 2015:

       Hello, Haplogroup I Cousins!

This month, we gained 25 members!  This is a record-breaker for us. We now have 735 in the project.  There are 437 (59%) with full-sequence testing. 

This afternoon, we gained evidence for a new I5 subclade.  (Many new subclades are already being proposed for I1, I2, I3, I4, and I6, and more are expected as new full-sequence test results arrive on the scene.)

This month data for four Haplogroup I sequences were added to the GenBank database, which makes the information available to researchers. The sequences belong to subclades I2, I2c, I5c, plus there was a new sequence representing a completely new (as yet unknown) clade of Haplogroup I !

Here's wishing everyone a cool and happy summer!

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May 31, 2015:

Hello, Everyone!  This month we gained 7 new members, which brings the total membership of the project to 710.  More than half, 418 (58%), have full-sequence testing. This allows the discovery and/or confirmation of the specific subclade assignment for these members. 

As some of you know, the haplogroup designation assigned to you by FTDNA does not necessarily reflect your most specific, up-to-date subclade label.  In fact, more than half of our members with full-sequence testing are known to belong to a more refined subclade than indicated by FTDNA.  If you have allowed project administrators to see your data, I am able to determine your most refined subclade. If you have not already checked your placement on our members' results page, you may wish to take a look to see where (under which category) your entry has been placed. Eventually, FTDNA will update customers' mtDNA haplogroup labels; we just don't know when. The last update took place in 2012. 

In the near future (this year?), a high percentage of our members will be assigned to newly-discovered subclades.  I anticipate the identification of over 50 new subclades for Haplogroup I, especially for those belonging to I1 and I2, but also for I3, and I4.  Feel free to ask if you would like me (M.H.) to check your subclade status. In many cases, I can predict whether or not you are likely to belong to one of these new subclades.  You can be sure that I will update the News page of our project as soon as any new subclades are officially identified. 

This month, one Haplogroup I sequence was added to GenBank, belonging to subclade I2a2.

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UPDATE 5/5/15:  I LEARNED THAT THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF A MOTHER'S DAY SALE THIS YEAR.  SO, IT MIGHT NOT HAPPEN.  WE WILL SEE.   IN CASE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN, I APOLOGIZE FOR SETTING UP EXPECTATIONS OF A SALE. - M.H.

April 30, 2015:

Hello Project Members!

Ten new members joined our ranks this month. We finally reached and then surpassed 700 members!  This brings our total to 703.  We have 414 with full-sequence testing, which is 58% of our membership. At least 6 members are awaiting new test results.

In April, there were 5 new Haplogroup I sequences added to GenBank. These are in the following subclades: I1a1a, I2 (x 2), I2a2, and I2c.

CANCELED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE:
NEWS FLASH!  
Upcoming Sale:  If you have not yet upgraded to the mtFull-Sequence test, please consider doing so during FTDNA's upcoming (anticipated) Sale.  It is a tradition at FTDNA to have a significant Sale on mtDNA tests in honor of Mother's Day. This would be the weekend of May 8 to 10.  I do not yet have details, but last year, FTDNA offered a $60 discount.  NOTE:  I (Martha Hicks) am offering a BONUS of an EXTRA $25 off to the first 3 members to order full-sequence testing during the sale!!  Take advantage of this rare opportunity to get a double discount!!  Don't be left out!!   I will update this page with more details after the sale is announced by FTDNA.

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March 31, 2015:

       Hello Everyone,

In March, we welcomed an all-time monthly high of 22 new members!  We now have 693 in the project.  Out of these, 410 (59%) have had full-sequence testing.  It is always fascinating from these tests to see evidence of new subclades emerging.

** Many thanks are due to our members who have generously donated to the project (I'm looking at you, Michael F. and Christopher L.)!!

GenBank received four Haplogroup I sequences in March in subclades: I1b (x 2), I1c, and I3a1. These are being made anonymously available to researchers to promote development of our haplogroup.

During the month, the project made the transition to the new myGroups format (although, we have not turned on the activity feed).  FTDNA is still making adjustments to some of the myGroups features. We hope you like the new design!

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February 28, 2015:

This month, 9 new members joined our ranks for a total of 671 members. Of these, 392 (58%) have full-sequence test results.

GenBank received 6 new Haplogroup I sequences in the following subclades in February: I1a1b, I1c, I2, I3d1, I4a, and I5b1. Several of these are expected to enable researchers to identify new subclades!

As most of you know, a change in project format and function is expected with FTDNA's new My Groups. Although, we have not yet transitioned to the new system, we eventually will.  We are waiting for various programming adjustments to be made behind the scenes, such as enabling email access for non-members to contact project administrators.

Back in September, Eupedia's Maciamo Hay updated his summary article about Haplogroup I, which you may find interesting. Here is a link:

http://www.eupedia.com/europe/Haplogroup_I_mtDNA.shtml

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January 31, 2015:

Hello, Members! I hope everyone's new year is off to a great start!

After a lull in new membership during the holidays, we welcomed 11 new members to the project this month. We now have a total of 662, which includes 386 (58%) with full-sequence testing.

In January, three new Haplogroup I sequences were released into the GenBank database in the following subclades: I1a1b, I2, and I5c.  Several more will be added soon. Many of these will be useful for further development of the mtDNAtree.

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December 31, 2014:

       Dear Project Members,

It's been an exciting and productive year for the development of Haplogroup I. Not only were 25 new subclades added to the mtDNA tree in February, but GenBank received 115 (!) new mtDNA sequences belonging to Haplogroup I - mostly from our own members.  This will lead to the discovery of many new subclades,which will pave the way to learn more about the various branches.

This month, we gained 6 new members -- for an end-of-year total of 651 members.  (We gained 113 members in 2014.)  In our project, 378 (58%) now have full-sequence testing either completed or in progress. Several members took advantage of the Holiday Sale that ends tonight at midnight (Central Time). If anyone would like to place a last-minute order, as of mid-afternoon today, we still have one more $25 discount code that can be applied to the sale price. So, contact me (Martha) if you would like this code to place an order.

This month, GenBank received two new Haplogroup I sequences,belonging to subclades I2 and I4a.

Thanks to the wonderful participation of our project members,we anticipate a record level of progress and discovery for Haplogroup I in the coming year! 

Wishing You All a Very Happy New Year- 2015!

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November 30, 2014:

Hello, Project Members!

This month five new members joined our ranks. The project now has 645 members -- with 368 (57%) who have full-sequence testing!  Ten new Haplogroup I sequences have been submitted to GenBank this month. These belong to the following subclades: I1a1a, I1a1b, I2 (x 2), I2d, I3a (x 2), I3c, I5a2,and I5c.

FTDNA'S HOLIDAY SALE IS UNDERWAY!!!  For all of our members who have not yet upgraded to the mtFull Sequence test, now would be a terrific time to do so, if at all possible!  The price for an upgrade is $139 if you've already tested both HVR1 and HVR2.  Otherwise, the price is $159 to obtain full-sequence results. Please consider upgrading to discover your subclade and maximize knowledge about your mtDNA line! The sale will continue through December 31. It may be possible to take another $10 off the sale price via "Mystery Rewards. (See your FTDNA account page.) You may email me (Martha) if you have questions or need assistance to place an order. 

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.

October 31, 2014:

Hello, Members!

We gained 12 new members this month, bringing our total to 640. This includes 363 (56%) who have full-sequence testing.

Five new Haplogroup I sequences have appeared at GenBank this month in the following subclades: I1a1b, I2, I3, I5a, and I5a2, which makes the results available to researchers. Data for more than 80 such sequences have been provided to GenBank so far in 2014. This is a record number that should lead to the identification of many new subclades!

 

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September 30, 2014:

       Hello!

*  This month our membership grew by 10, bringing the total to 628. This includes 356 (56%)with full-sequence testing.

* Two new Haplogroup I sequences were released at  GenBank this month -- in subclades I1a1 and I2. More are due to appear there in October.

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August 31, 2014:

Hello, Project Members!

This month, our project grew by 15 members, bringing our total to 618.  Fifty-six percent (348 members) have had full-sequence testing. When the next version of the official mtDNA tree (PhyloTree) is released, those with full-sequence testing will find out if they belong to a new branch (subclade). With all the submissions made to research this year (by project members making their data anonymously available at GenBank), we expect record-level growth and development of Haplogroup I. This past month, two new submissions were made to GenBank, both belonging to I2.

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July 31, 2014:

Greetings, Project Members!  We gained 9 new members this month, which brings us to a grand total of 603 members!  Among our members, 340 (56%) have full mtDNA sequence testing. This will enable many of this group to be assigned to new subclades in the near future.  A set of GenBank submissions this month are pending release, so details about them are not yet available.

UPDATE: There were four Haplogroup I sequences that were added to GenBank in July. These are in subclades: I1a1b, I2a, I2a2, and I3a. We appreciate these contributions!

 

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June 30, 2014:

Hello, Everyone!

 

*  This month 12 new members joined the Project. This brings our membership to 594!

* A total of 331 (55% of our group) has had full-sequence mtDNAtesting.  Everyone with full-sequence results will be prepared to discover whether or not they belong to any new subclades added to upcoming updates of the PhyloTree (offical mtDNA tree).

* Twelve new Haplogroup I sequences were submitted to GenBank for research this month!  This includes additions for the following subclades: I*, I1a1, I1a1b, I1a1c, I1b (x4), I2c, I3a, I4a1, and I5. More Haplogroup I sequences are due to appear at GenBank in July.

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May 31, 2014:

Hello Everyone!  This month, 11 new members joined our Project. We have a current membership of 582. There are now 327 members (56%) with full-sequence mtDNA testing!  For these members, full-sequence testing has allowed us to determine their most up-to-date subclade assignment and discover that many will, sooner or later, be assigned to new subclades.

This month, many of our members submitted their results to GenBank! We extend a big 'Thank you!' to each one. Their contributions will promote research of our haplogroup by making the data available to researchers. The data from sixteen members were released into the GenBank database this month, representing these subclades: I1 (x2), I1a1 (x2), I1a1a (x2), I1a1b (x2), I2 (x2), I2c, I2d, I3a, I4a (x2), and I5a1a. It is apparent that many new subclades will be added to the mtDNA tree for haplogroup I, including one or more major branches. Stay tuned to our Project News for more information!

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April 30, 2014:

Hello, Everyone! We welcomed 12 new members to the Project this month! We now have 571members. A total of 316 (55%) have full-sequence testing (either completed or on order). We are happy to report that 26 new mtFull-Sequence tests are in progress for our members at this time!

Many thanks to our members who submitted their results to GenBank for research and development of our haplogroup! This month, GenBank released 22 new haplogroup I sequences into its database - with more on the way! The sequences are in these subclades: I1a1b, I2 (x 8), I2a, I2a2, I4a (x 5), I4a1 (x 3), I5, I5a4, plus an I in an unknown branch that has not yet been identified.

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March 30, 2014:

Hello, Everyone!  This month, 10 new members joined the Project.  Our membership has grown to 559!  A total of 284 (50% of our group) has had full-sequence mtDNA testing -- not counting pending orders.

FTDNA has a late-March sale with the lowest prices ever seen -- in effect through April 1, 2014 -- for full-sequence mtDNA testing! All of you who have ordered an upgrade made a fantastic decision!  Never again will you have to wonder or guess where you fit on the current or any future version of the mtDNAtree! 

Seven new Haplogroup I sequences were added to the GenBank database for research this month! These were in subclades I1 (x3), I1a1, I2d, I3a, and I4a1.

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February 28, 2014:

Project Stats:  This month, 11 new members joined our Project... ending the month with a total of 549 in our group. There are now 280 members (51%) with full-sequence mtDNA testing!  You might ask: What is the benefit of this test?  For one thing, it makes it possible for you to be placed in your most refined subclade. It also provides you with the closest possible set of matches from the large FTDNA database.

*See Below for our Top News Stories!     

Hear ye! Hear ye! We are excited to announce that Build 16 of the PhyloTree has been released!!! This is the official mtDNA tree by Dr. Mannis van Oven and M.Kayser. Here is a link to the website:

PhyloTree: Build 16

On the home page of the PhyloTree, click on "Build 16," which will take you to the top of the mtDNA chart.  From there, click on macro-haplogroup N to go to the chart that contains Haplogroup I (about 15 inches from the top of the page).

It is fascinating to see that 24 new sub-branches have been discovered for our haplogroup, plus a new main branch...I7.  Sixty of our members have moved to a new branch!  I have added categories for these new groups on the project members' results page. 

If you do not find yourself in a new subclade this time, it could happen in the next update of the mtDNA tree. In most cases, it is a matter of waiting for GenBank to receive more sequences. Our haplogroup is expected to undergo development for years and years to come.  Eventually, FTDNA will update the haplogroup labels on customers' pages and the Project's members' Results page.

A number of newly-identified subclades were made possible by our project members who submitted their mtDNA data to GenBank. I'd like to give each of these members a round of applause for their data contributions!  It will be great if more members submit their full-sequence data to GenBank in the year ahead. This is especially helpful if you have only a few exact FMS matches or no exact FMS matches!

Another Bit of News!  We were surprised to learn this week that there is an Egyptian mummy who is eligible to join our Project!  That's right. This mummy belongs to subclade I2. Due to the fact that I2 is usually seen in northern Europe, and this mummy is from a rather late era of Egyptian history (after the Greeks had infiltrated), there is some speculation that this mtDNA line may have come from Europe. Below is a link to a summary article on the subject.  Thanks to member David T. for sharing this news with us!

Egyptian Mummies Yield Genetic Secrets

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January 31, 2014:

Twelve new members were added to our Project this month. We now have 538 member

A total of 272 members (50% of our group!) have now had full-sequence mtDNAtesting. This (once-in-a-lifetime) investment by our project members is much appreciated! Not only does the test provide individualized information about your own mtDNA line -- and more meaningful matches -- it is also the basis for gaining knowledge about our haplogroup. Many of our members are finding that they have rare sequences that could be instrumental in the discovery of new branches.

Update: As there continues to be a delay in the release of Build 16 of the PhyloTree (official mtDNA tree), there is speculation that changes to the presentation of data might be under consideration. We anxiously await the update and will let you know - via this website news section - when it is released.

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December 31, 2013:

Happy New Year, Project Members!

This month, we welcomed 12 new members!  We now have 526 people in the Project.  A total of 261 (49% of our group) have had full-sequence mtDNAtesting.

GenBank has received new Haplogroup I sequences! This month, three were added - in subclades  I1a1a, I2, and I5.  Last month, five were submitted - in subclades I1a,  I1b, and I2.  These submissions enable new branches of Haplogroup I to be discovered. * In spite of delays, the updated version of the official mtDNA tree (PhyloTree, Build 16) is due to be released any time now. We look forward to new subclades of Haplogroup I ! At that time, I will begin creating new subgrouping categories on our project members' results page. If we find that you belong to a new subclade, I will move your entry to the appropriate section. It may take several weeks to complete this.

If this is your first time to visit the News section of the Project web site, please see the update from June 2013 (below) for more information.

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November 30, 2013:

FTDNA has announced its Holiday Sale prices! These prices are in effect through December 31, 2013.  Please consider upgrading to the Mega full-sequence if you have not already done so!

HVR1 to Mega (full sequence): Previously $169...on sale for $149
HVR2 to Mega (full sequence):   Previously $159...on sale for $139
First-time mtDNA testers going to full-sequence:  Previously $199...on sale for$169.

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Project Stats:  We welcomed seven new members this month. We now have 514 people in the Project. A total of 254 members (49%of our group) have had full-sequence testing. This testing not only benefits the individual testers in discovering their most refined subclade available (and in narrowing down their matches), but it also has the potential to help in the development of our haplogroup. There are many new branches of haplogroup I yet to be discovered.  A number of our project members have submitted their full-sequence data to GenBank to assist in the discovery of their specific subclades.

The official mtDNA tree (PhyloTree) is due to be released any time now... delayed, but expected now in December. We look forward to seeing some new branches for haplogroup I. This will allow us to divide some of the current subclades into smaller groups.

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October 31, 2013:

Hello everyone! We welcomed 10 new members to the Project this month! We reached a milestone of 500 members and ended the month with 507 members!  A total of 244members (48% of our group) have had full-sequence mtDNA testing.

News Flash!  We are super excited to report that the new version of the official mtDNA tree - known as the PhyloTree - is due to be released sometime in November!  The current version is "Build 15," so this will be"Build 16."  We anticipate seeing new Haplogroup I branches!! On the PhyloTree chart, you will find Haplogroup I under macro-haplogroup N. If you're looking at the current version of the tree (Build 15) go to the page for N, and you will find Haplogroup I about 10 inches from the top of the page.  Here is a link to the website:

http://www.Phylotree.org

If you have not yet done so, you might consider upgrading to the "Mega"(full-sequence) mtDNA test in order to discover (or confirm) your subclade. Some of our members will discover that they belong to a new subclade. An added benefit is that the testing will permanently equip you to know where you belong on the tree as it develops in the future. It is worth repeating to mention that development of the official mtDNA tree depends on people submitting full sequence data to GenBank. This makes the results anonymously available to researchers.  For information about contributing your own mtDNA to GenBank, please see the news section, below, for the month of June.

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September 30, 2013:

We welcomed 12 new members this month. As of September 30, 2013, we have 497 members in the project. Wow, almost 500 members! * A total of 239 (48% ofour group) have had full-sequence mtDNA testing.

This month, it was good news to see that GenBank received a new sequence in subclade I1a1b. Late last month, an additional 27 new I sequences were published at GenBank associated with a research article that discusses haplogroups I and W. Several new subclades of I are proposed by the article!  Here are the title and link:

"Mitogenomes from Two Uncommon Haplogroups Mark Late Glacial/Postglacial Expansions from the Near East and Neolithic Dispersals within Europe."

If this is your first time to visit the News section of the Project web site, please see the update from June 2013 (below) for more information.

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August 31, 2013:

We welcomed 19 new people to the group this month! As of August 31, 2013, we have 485 members in the Project.  It is likely that we will hit a milestone of 500 total members before long.  A total of 233 members (48%of our group) have had full-sequence mtDNA testing.

August10, 2013: As reported last month, GenBank received data submissions for three mtDNA sequences (I1, I4a, and I5). GenBank has now received a new I2sequence!  Many thanks to these individuals for promoting development and research of Haplogroup I! To identify a new subclade, GenBank needs to accumulate two or three samples that contain a particular defining motif (from people who are not closely related). Therefore, it would be terrific if many more members follow suit and provide their sequence data to GenBank. Doing this will allow YOUR sequence to be considered in the development of the human mtDNA tree.  // For additional information, please see the News section (below) for June. For assistance with submitting to GenBank, feel free to contact me, administrator Martha Hicks. You can access my e-mail address on the "Background" project page.  Or, for assistance, you can visit the following site of DNA expert Dr. Ian Logan for more information and assistance:

Ian Logan's Site / Instructions for GenBank Submission

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July 31, 2013:

We welcomed 19 new people to the group this month! As of July 31, 2013, we have 466 members in the Project.  A total of 224 members (48%of our group) have had full-sequence mtDNA testing!

News Flash!   July 11, 2013:  GenBank has received data for THREE new haplogroup I sequences!! These sequences belong to subclades I1, I4a, and I5. Many thanks to these members for promoting development of our haplogroup!!  For a new subclade to be identified, it is typically necessary for GenBank to get three similar samples representing the new branch, so we hope that more members will submit their mtDNA data. Please read the News section below (for June) for more information.

For assistance with submitting to GenBank, feel free to contact me, administrator Martha Hicks (see "Background" project page for email address) or visit the following site of DNA expert Dr. Ian Logan for more information and assistance:

Ian Logan's Site / Instructions for GenBank Submission 

 

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June 30, 2013:

As of June 30, 2013, we have 447 members in the Project. We welcomed 8 new people to the group this month. A total of 210 members (46%of our group) have now had full-sequence mtDNA testing!

Many of our project members are in subclades that are expected to eventually be divided into smaller subgroups. One example is subclade I4, which currently has only one subgroup, I4a. We anticipate that I4 will eventually be divided into additional subgroups, such as I4b and I4c. Likewise, I4a will probably be divided into smaller subgroups, such as I4a1, I4a2, etc. Further development could take place for any of the current subclades, but on our members' Results page, a note has been added to many of the category labels -- asking that these members consider submitting full-sequence results to GenBank -- in cases where we most anticipate further subclade development when enough sequences are submitted.

Submitting your results to GenBank makes your sequence anonymously available to those who update the official human mtDNA tree (known as the PhyloTree), so that your sequence can be taken into account. You might be wondering... what is the point of promoting development of haplogroup I?  It is the basis for learning more about the history of our haplogroup.  Generally, subclade divisions result in younger and younger subgroups. For example, a subclade may be 12,000 years old, but when divided into subgroups, the new groups may be 4,000 and 7,000 years old. When each of the these undergo division, the new groups may be 1,500 and 3,000 years old. Larger and/or older subclades tend to have a wider geographical spread. Smaller and/or younger subgroups are expected to correlate with a smaller geographical area. With this type of information, we hope to learn much more about the history and migration of our haplogroup and its subclades.

DNA expert, Dr. Ian Logan, tracks all the mtDNA submissions to GenBank. On his website, he has instructions, including a Do-It-Yourself utility, and offers personal assistance for submissions. Or, you may also contact me, project administrator Martha Hicks, for assistance and/or more information about GenBank.

Ian Logan's Site / Instructions for GenBank Submission

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May 31, 2013:

Project Stats:  As of May 31, 2013, we have 439 members in the Project.   We welcomed 23 new members to the group this month! There are now 204 members with full-sequence mtDNA test results (46% of our group) - and several more have results pending.

There is new low pricing for full mtDNA testing is as follows: 

Upgrade HVR2-to-Mega -- $159
Upgrade HVR1-to-Mega -- $169
Full-Sequence for first timers -- $199

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April 30, 2013:

The FTDNA sale -- which includes the Full-Sequence mtDNA test/upgrade -- has been extended through April 30, 2013. For this limited time, you can order an upgrade of HVR1-to-Mega or HVR2-to-Mega for just $129. If you have not yet had any mtDNA testing by FTDNA, it will cost $189 to get the full-sequence test.

We were happy to learn that a number of our project members decided to take advantage of the sale and have ordered test upgrades!!

Project Stats:  As of April 28, 2013, we have 416 members in the Project.  A total of 179 members (43%) have had full-sequence mtDNA testing.

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Martha Jane Schliesser Hicks - 2013/2014/2015-2019/2020

mtDNA Haplogroup I Project: News by Martha Jane (Schliesser) Hicks is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.